The Ethics of Homelessness: Philosophical Perspectives

This new and expanded edition of G. John M. Abbarno’s anthology The Ethics of Homelessness underscores what is ignored in plain sight: people without a home or dwelling are also without privacy and dignity. It is argued that they lack moral standing. The chapters uncover the harsh realities of poverty where economic value overrides competing human values. Naomi Zack argues that homelessness is symbolic of society’s materialistic values. It has a tendency to resist sufficient charity and perpetuates conditions of injustice. Uma Narayan questions whether the homeless have protection under the U.S. Constitution. Other authors present an enlarged sphere of homeless to include runaway children, refugees, adoptees and the disabled. The book demonstrates the value of applied philosophy.

G. John M. Abbarno earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He is Professor of Philosophy at D’Youville College and author of many journal articles on ethics as well as an anthology on inherent and instrumental value. He has also been a guest speaker on Value Theory throughout China. A past President of the American Society for Value Inquiry and the International Society for Value Inquiry, he is the current President of the Conference on Philosophical Societies.